He was to break again, though Djokovic got back into the match immediately after as he showed the resilience that has seen him top the rankings and win two Grand Slams of his own this year.

But after an epic last game of the match, it was Murray who prevailed, winning the last of his three Championship points to take the ATP World Tour Finals crown, a victory that guarantees him top spot heading into 2017.

"It's a very special day, playing against Novak in a match like this," he said.

The physicality and mental tenacity of @andy_murray is incredible. Congrats on an amazing year.

"We've played Grand Slams finals, Olympic finals and it's a tough rivalry, I've lost many of them so to finish the year winning and becoming world No.1 is very special, something I never expected.

"I couldn't do this without my team, they've all been a huge help and some of them have been around for a long time.

"My family have been there from the start and have made sacrifices for me and my tennis, so a huge thanks to all of them.

"There are a lot of great champions here watching and Novak and I are very lucky to have two of them in our boxes. It's a very special day and huge congratulations to Novak for everything he has achieved this year."

It took until the sixth game of the second set for Djokovic to earn his own chance, capitalising to set the nerves running in the capital as the finishing line remained tantalisingly close.

And the jitters kept coming too, Murray boasting three Championship points as Djokovic refused to give in, a second serve eventually coming back too far to bring to an end the 12-year, three-strong stranglehold of world tennis.